Improved turn-table



UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

JAMES B. KELLY, OF KENDALLVILLE, INDIANA.

IMPRQVED TU RN-TABLE.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 56,571, dated July 24,1866.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, JAMES B. KELLY, of Kendallville, in the county ofNoble and State of Indiana, have invented a new and Improved Turn-Tablefor Railroads; and I do hereby declare that the following is a full,clear, and exact description thereof, reference being had to theaccompa-nying drawings, making a part of this specification, in which-Figure l is a top view of the new turn-table. Fig. 2 is a side elevationof the turn-table.

. Fig. 3 shows the arrangement of the rollers or wheels upon which thetable turns. Fig. 4 is a vertical section through Fig. l.

Similar letters of reference indicate corre sponding parts in theseveral gures.

This invention relates to a novel mode of constructing railroadturn-tables by which locomotive-engines are turned around upon a trackor switched from one. track to another, the object of which invention isto avoid friction and the sliding of the wheels upon the tracks as muchas possible, and thereby ob'- tain an easy-running table, as will behereinafter described.

To enable others skilled in the art to understand my invention, I willdescribe its construction and operation.

The bed or foundation A may be constructed of timbers framed together inthe usual manner of constructing such foundations, or it may be made ofmasonry and the circular railtracks spiked down upon it in any suitablemanner. The two concentric rail-tracks, B and G, are constructed withtheir upper surfaces beveled outward, as clearly shown in Fig. 4.

This bevel or inclined plane should, if extend. ed inward, intersect apoint which is in a plane coinciding with the axes of the several wheelsC C D D, upon which the circular table E is mounted.

The turn-table E may be constructed of timbers suitably framed togetherand braced, so that the table will sustain very heavy loads upon itwithout sagging. On the bottom side of this table are secured twoconcentric rails, B C2, which correspond in diameter and in every otherparticular to the two supportingrails B and C. This tableE is supportedceni trally upon a post, E', which proceeds up from the foundation A,and which is immovably xed thereto. The upper end of said post may befitted into a socket, and a reduced centraly stem or pivot may projectfrom the upper end ofthe post and pass through the turntable, receivingupon its upper end a nut, as shown in Figs. l, 2, and 4.

The wheels CZ and D (eight or more in number) are applied loosely uponthe ends of radial shafts C3 D', which project horizontally from a ring,G, that is concentric to the axis of the post E. The wheels C', whichroll upon the outer rail, are applied to the ends of the longest shaftsG3, and those wheels D which are appliedto the inner rail are on theshorter shafts D. These radial shafts are arranged at regular intervalsapart around the ring G, as shown in Fig. 3, so as to afford a uniformbearing to the turntable E.

It will be seen by reference to Figs. 3 and 4 that the wheels C and Dare flanged, and also that the flanges a b are inside of theirrespective rails. These wheels are the frusta of cones the apices ofwhich proceed from a common center.

By thus constructing the wheels they will be prevented from binding asthey are rolled upon their rails. Their conical shape is adapted to theinclined surfaces of the rails between which th ey roll, and theirflanges prevent them from moving outward. Consequently it will not benecessary to apply nuts or anything of the kind to the outer ends of theaxles or shafts of these rollers or wheels.

If desirable, three or more circular tracks maybe applied to thefoundation A and table E and the number of conical wheels increased; butfor all ordinary purposes two rails above and below will answer.

While my invention is especially applicable to railroad turn-tables, itis also applicable as ananti-friction bearing or center support forswinging bridges, to heavy derricks, and to longer than the other setand both sets yoked 2. The conical anged Wheels and beveledtogether-have ever been used in connection rails, in combination withthe central ring, G, with a turn-table. Therefore I do not claim fixedcenter post, E', and a turning table, E, conical toothed and hangedrollers; but substantially as described.

What l do claim, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

1. The yoking-ring G, in combination with conical rollers and aconcentric rail or rails, substantially as and for the purpose hereindescribed.

JAMES B. KELLY..

Witnesses JAMES CoLEGRovE, S. E. GOODWIN.

